President Mahinda Rajapaksa prorogued Parliament for one month from midnight Tuesday.

Government sources said Parliament would meet again on June 5.

The Opposition criticized the decision asserting that it was a clear sign of weakness. Government sources said the result of the May 10 election to the Eastern Provincial Council would bring the UNP to its knees.

Basil Rajapaksa, MP, last night said there was absolutely no special reason for the prorogation of Parliament. The government thought the time was right to call a new session, Rajapaksa said, rejecting the opposition assertion that it was a sign of weakness. According to him only three of four days would be missed due to prorogation.